Wiley Ref's Preston Clash

Alan Wiley from Staffordshire will take charge of Rangers clash against Preston North End this weekend.

The 48-year old official is one of the most experienced on the refereeing circuit at present, having refereed numerous Rangers fixtures, and spending the majority of his career in the top flight.

Alan started on his path to refereeing back in 1981, refereeing in the West Midlands Regional Leagues before being promoted to The Football League assistant referee's list in 1991 and the Premier League list in 1994.

Mr Wiley was added to the Football League referee's list in 1995 and moved to the Premier League list in 1999, and remains one of the more competent of the current crop of officials.

Refereeing Rangers

His history with Rangers can be traced back to May 1998, when the R`s succumbed to a 1-0 defeat at home to Bury. Gordon Armstrong bagged the winner for the away side, against a Rangers side that included both Neil Ruddock and Vinny Jones.

Two Rangers games followed the next season for Mr Wiley, as he saw Karl Ready equalise in the 90th minute against Bristol City after Matthew Hewlett had given the Robins the lead. Following this Rangers beat Norwich City 2-0 on Boxing Day in W12, with goals from Paul Murray and Gavin Peacock.

Mr Wiley did not meet Rangers again for another six years, as the R`s were hot on the promotion trail as they travelled to Oakwell. In an eventful affair Mr Wiley`s assistant gave a controversial goal, after a calamitous error between Antony Kay and substitute goalkeeper Danny Alcock saw the ball trickle goalbound only to be cleared away - The goal was given and Alcock never played for the Tykes again.

The game ebbed one way then another with former Rangers forward Daniel Nardiello notching, then the Tykes thought they`d won it courtesy of David Murphy, but Paul Furlong snatched a point at the death in a 3-3 draw.

With the respected official rarely dipping down into the Championship, games with Rangers were few and far between. However he did get the R`s again back in February 2006. The R`s beat Millwall at home courtesy of a Marc Nygaard goal, with Alan Dunne given his marching orders - caretaker boss David Tuttle was subject to abuse from the away end following the result.

During the reign of Luigi De Canio the R`s hosted Crystal Palace, who had new found confidence under new boss Neil Warnock. The Eagles swept the R`s aside despite going a goal down to Damion Stewart. But goals from Clint Hill and Rangers` nemesis Clinton Morrison saw them to victory in W12.

In total Mr Wiley has taken charge of six Rangers games over ten years, overseeing eight Rangers goals, and booking 11 R`s players.

So far this season Mr Wiley has refereed 16 games, handing out 47 yellow cards and two reds, giving him a card average of 3.06.